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Leds in hotspur

Skipper Ledley King believes that the restrictions imposed by his chronic knee injury have served to make him mentally stronger.

Skipper Ledley King believes that the restrictions imposed by his chronic knee injury have served to make him mentally stronger.

Ledley has to nurse his troublesome knee through the week, often training alone and missing out on much of the usual banter normally associated with a team preparing for a match.

Yet, when he plays, he remains the king - and he agrees that despite it all he's playing some of the best football of his career.

"Of course, the injury holds me back in one sense but in another - through having to deal with the adversity of not being able to play every week and not being able to train - I've had to invest heavily in the mental side of things and I believe that, in itself, has made me a more complete player," he tells May's hotspur.

"It's not easy...it's tough. But it's something that I have learned to deal with.

"It goes against all the coaching manuals and all the best advice, but if it means I can play a part, then that's the way it has to be. I love playing and for as long as I feel I can perform at the highest level then I will do it.

"I still feel I'm playing the best football of my career and when I can build up a consistency of games and get into a rhythm then that's when I'm at my best."

Read the full and exclusive interview in the May issue of hotspur where Ledley also talks about his love and ambition for Spurs - plus his World Cup hopes. On sale now!